SPEC chooses The Hub as its North East base and pledges to create up to twenty new jobs

17 November 2015Pictured left to right: William Hair, Craig Wright, Mike Middleton and Stephen Lancaster of SPEC Limited outside of their new office at the Hub in Washington

A specialist substation support contractor has expanded its business to the North East to support its continued growth plans.

Yorkshire-based Specialist Power Engineering Contracts (SPEC) Limited has opened a new office at The Hub in Washington, Tyne and Wear and at the same time has pledged to create up to twenty new jobs.

The company provides specialist services and support including the supply, installation and maintenance of power substations, distribution and networks up and including 66KV.

To date, SPEC operate and maintain circa 1600 HV connected sites nationally for clients such as Power Stations, Supermarkets, Hotel Chains, Manufacturing, Renewable sites, Oil and Gas and Industrial. The company employs over 80 staff nationally and saw its turnover reach £12m in the last financial year.

SPEC Limited was established in August 2000 and is spearheaded by directors Craig Wright and Ian Needham. Operating from its head office in Wakefield, the company also has offices in Oxford, Aldershot and Lancaster and they don’t intend to stop there.

Craig Wright, Power Contracts Director of SPEC Limited, said: “We work with clients all over the world including China, Singapore, African states, Falklands and Trinidad and Tobago but our aim is to firmly establish ourselves here in the UK. We want to grow our business and have a strong regional presence here in the North East and The Hub was ideal because of its excellent location and flexibility to help us grow.

“We are committed to creating up to twenty new jobs here in the North East and have already appointed two members of staff in the last six weeks with a further two appointments to be announced next month.”

Stephen Lancaster has recently been appointed as Northern Sales Manager while William Hair has been appointed as Technical Sales and Project Engineer.

Stephen who is responsible for establishing and running the North East operation from The Hub, said: “The company has gone through significant growth over the last few years and it was important for us to have a base here in the North East to serve clients but also to have easier access to our clients in Yorkshire and Scotland. The Hub is managed by The North East Business and Innovation Centre (BIC) so we have access to a range of additional services and business support which is perfect to help us to grow our business here in the North East.”

Jillian Coleman, Centre Manager at The Hub, said: “The Hub provides flexible managed office space to businesses looking to grow and expand so we are delighted to welcome SPEC Limited as a tenant at a very important stage of their development. It is great news for the region that a Yorkshire-based company has chosen The Hub for its North East base but also that they are committed to creating a substantial number of new jobs for local people.”

The company already has a strong North East presence and works with clients such as Balfour Beatty, Newcastle University and Wiseman Dairies. It expects turnover to reach £15m this financial year end and will be opening its sixth regional office in Scotland next year.